What you should know about Cataract

MarinEyes Cataract Specialists

John C. Shin and Christian K. Kim use the most current proven methods in their cataract surgery. The doctors provide pre-operative consultations, second opinions and post-operative care. Cataract is a clouding of the natural lens in your eye. It starts imperceptibly and typically progresses over time. It may come on slowly or quickly, in younger or older patients. If it gets to the point of limiting your activities, it is time to consider whether you are ready to either get your glasses improved, or to have something done about the cataract. Cataracts never get better on their own, they progress over time. Fortunately there are excellent treatment options available.

What is a Cataract?

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Cataract occurs as ultraviolet light entering the eye interacts with the proteins in the natural lens within your eye. The clear natural lens becomes cloudy as time goes by. Although this process begins when we are young, it becomes noticeable to your eye doctor normally in your 50′s and 60′s. When the clouding becomes bad enough to cut down or your visual acuity during an eye examination, it is diagnosed as “cataract.” The exact age of onset, rate of progression and severity of cataracts varies from one person to the next. While most cataracts simply come with age, there are a number of risk factors: smoking, diabetes, retinal surgery, family history, prednisone and certain other drugs, trauma, and ocular inflammation.